Music-leaf turner.



J. F. DIGKSON. MUSIC LEAF TURNER. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 20, 1908.

Patented June 8, 19.09.

with use:

JAMES F. DIGKSON, OF CONWAY SPRINGS, KANSAS.

MUSIC-LEAF TURNER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 8, 1909.

Application filed June 20, 1908. Serial No. 439,583.

T all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Janus F. Bronson, a citizen of the United States, residing at Conway Springs, in the county of Sumner and State of Kansas, have invented a new and useful hliusic-Leaf Turner, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to music leaf turners and its object is to provide a device of this character which is simple and efficient, can be readily attached to a supporting structure, and which will positively operate to turn one leaf at a time.

Another object is to provide a device of this character which can be conveniently used upon a piano without cutting or otherwise marring the instrument and which when so located will be in a position to be easily actuated by the performer.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists of certain novel features of construction and combinations of parts which will be hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claim.

In the accompanying drawings is shown the preferred form of the invention.

In said drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the device. Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevation of the combined holding and releasing trigger and the adjoining parts.

Referring to the figures by characters of reference, 1 designates a cross bar having tubular side rods 2 connected to it and eX- tending above and below the same, the downwardly projecting portions of these rods being preferably much longer than those portions located above the bar 1.

Extending forward from one end of the bar 1 is a bracket 3 the projecting portion of which is forked as indicated at 1. Pivotally mounted. upon the outer face of the upper arm or tine of this fork is a trigger consisting of an arcuate head 5 having a finger 6 extending therefrom while projecting in an opposite direction from the head is an arm 7. A coiled spring 8 is secured to this arm and also to the upper tine of the fork and serves to hold finger 6 normally in position across the space between the two tines of the fork. hen the finger is thus positioned the heel 9 of the trigger is located above said space and back of the finger 6 as indicated in Fig. 1. A strong cord or other flexible device 10 is fastened to the arm 7 and extends rearwardly over a sheave 11 which is journaled upon the bar 1 and under a guard 12 located adjacent the sheave. Said device then extends downward and is fastened to a rod 13 mounted in a guide 14 which extends from one of the rods 2. This rod 13 is also slidably mounted 5 within an opening 15 formed in a base strip or ledge 16 having stems 17 extending from the end portions thereof and telescoping into the rods 2. Set screws 18 or other suitable devices may be provided for securing these stems in adjusted positions within the rods 2. A finger piece 19 of any suitable size and shape may be secured to the lower end of the rod 13.

Secured to the middle portion of the front face of the bar 1 is a series of leaf springs 20 arranged in a group one behind the other and each leaf spring has its free end fastened to one end of a non-flexible strip 22. Each strip is of SUHlClQIlt length to project into the fork 1 and all of the strips except the front strip 22 are provided with spacing lugs or projections 23 whereby when said strips are assembled with their ends in the fork 4 they are held apart a sufficient distance to permit the heel 9 of the trigger to move between them. Each strip 22 has preferably two clips 24 of any preferred form attached to the end portions thereof and extending downward therefrom.

A red 25 telescopes into the upper end of each tubular rod 2 and has parallel arms 26 and 27 extending therefrom. The arm 27 has a binding screw 28 mounted therein and designed to cooperate with the arm 26 to constitute a clamp whereby the device can be firmly attached to any object inserted between the two members. It is of course to be understood that the cooperating parts of the clamp are preferably covered with felt or other material to prevent injury to the supporting object engaged. The ledge or base 16 may be provided with rearwardly extending arms 29 constituting rests for bearing against a supporting structure and these arms are also preferably provided with felt ends so as to prevent injury to said structure.

In using the device herein described upon a piano the front edge of the top panel of the piano is preferably inserted between the members 26 and 27 and clamped by the screws 28. The base or ledge 16 is then ad justed vertically until it is positioned at a desired elevation with the arms 27 resting against the front panel of the iano, or against the raised cover of the eyboard. After the proper adjustment has been effected the clips on the strips 22 and 22 are fastened to the upper edges of the leaves to be turned and'said strips 22 are then pressed back and inserted endwise into the fork 4 and back of the finger 6. To turn the first leaf the operator pushes or pulls down on the finger piece 19, thus pulling the arm 7 against the stress of spring 8. Finger 6 will then be swung upward out of the path of the strip contacting therewith and at the same time the heel 9 will move downward in front of the adjoining strip. It is to be understood that the springs 20 are under stress while the strips 22 and 22 are held by the trigger. Obviously therefore these springs will promptly swing their strips to the op posite side of the holder unless they are held by the trigger. When the finger piece is released spring 8 will return the trigger to its initial position, the heel 9 swinging upward from in front of the strips 22 while the finger 6 swings downward in front of and in con tact with the front strip 22. The foregoing operation can then be re eated. Lugs 23 constitute means for ho ding the strips spaced. apart sufficient distances to permit the heel 9 to readily move into position between the strips.

hat is claimed is:

A music leaf turner comprising a ledge, a top bar thereabove and parallel therewith, adjustable connections between said top bar and the ledge, and means upon the top bar for turning leaves, said means comprising a combined guiding and holding fork eX- tending forward perpendicularly to the top bar and at one end of said bar, spring strips secured at one end to the bar and lapping throughout their lengths, leaf-carrying stri s secured to said spring strips and movab e into the fork, means upon said leaf-carrying stri s for engaging the upper edge portions of the eaves to be turned, said strips being unyielding, spacing devices upon the leaf-carrying strips, a pivoted holding device mounted upon the fork and comprising a head, a finger and a heel, said finger and heel being disposed to alternately engage and retain a strip within the fork, and means for actuating the head to successively release the strips from the fork, and elastic means for holding said. head normally in a predetermined position.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JAMES F. DIOKSON l/Vitnesses:

G. D. SAMPLE, JEssE DUNCAN. 

